Weight-indicating trailer coupler

ABSTRACT

A weight-indicating trailer coupler for visually indicating actual tongue weight or tongue load of a trailer which is applied to a tow car hitch, during loading, after loading, or after rearranging a load, for the purpose of insuring safe towing through application of adequate weight on the tongue and tow car hitch ball. Actual tongue weight may be read off of a calibrated scale. The coupler consists of two pivotally engaged portions, one of which is attached to a trailer tongue, and the other portion being pivotable with respect to the first portion, against the action of a predetermined strength spring means interposed therebetween, to indicate tongue load visually on a scale.

[ 1 Oct. 24, 1972 [541' WEIGHT-INDICATING TRAILER Y COUPLER [72]Inventor: Wilmer E. Glissendori, Phoenix,

Ariz.

[73] Assignee: Advanced Management Engineer-lug 8: Research Company,Phoenix, Ariz.

[22] Filed: Dec.6, 1971 211 Appl.No.:204,967

[521 vs. Cl. ..177/136,l77/l64,177/225, 177/230, 177/245, 280/477 511int. Cl ..G01g3/08,G01g 19/08,G0lg 23/14 [58] Field of Search ..l77/136,1, 139, 145, 146, 177/151-153, 137, 138, 225, 229, 164, 163, DIG. 8,230, 232-234, 245; 280/477 [56] 7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS245,201 8/1881 Mills ..l77/l39 1,266,881 5/1918 Taylor 177/234 2,135,972ll/ 1938 Garlinger ..280/477 3,650,340 3/1972 Bradley ..177/136 PrimaryExaminer-Robert S. Ward, Jr. Aztorney-David i-l. Semmes [57] ABSTRACT Aweight-indicating trailer coupler for visually indicating actual tongueweight or tongue load of a trailer which is applied to a tow car hitch,during loading, after loading, or after rearranging a load, for thepurpose of insuring safe towing through application of adequate weighton the tongue and tow car hitch ball. Actual tongue weight may be readoff of a calibrated scale. The coupler consists of two pivotally engagedportions,- one of which is attached to a trailer tongue, and the otherportion being pivotable with respect to the first portion, against theaction of a predetermined strength spring means interposed therebetween,to indicate tongue load visually on a scale.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures memmnm'wm v 3.700.053

saw 2 or 3 FIG. 3

INVENTOR WILNER E, GLlSSEhDORF ATTORNW PATENTEDHBI24 m2 'SHEEI 3 BF 3wwww ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION .Safe towing of trailers bytwo vehicles requires adequate weight on the tongue as applied to atow'car hitch ball or the like. It is extremely difficult for a user todetermine what tongue weight is being applied or exists when a traileris loaded and ready for the road. This problem is accentuated underconditions of use by inexperienced persons, and isespecially prevalentin the field of rental trailers. Such rentaltrailers, for example,normally include a decal, or other'marking, affixed to the traileradjacent the tongue which indicates a minimum weight to be applied onthe tow car hitch in pounds. The user, however, has no way ofdetermining, except perhaps through experience, the actual or probabletongue weight or load on a tow CBII'IIICII.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is for aweight-indicating trailer coupler which includes a pivotable portionwhich, in conjunction withspring means, reacts to tongue load or weight,and the actualtongue weight of a trailer as applied to a tow vehiclehitch can be read off of a calibrated scale. Specifically differentspring means and/or scale indicators can be used, and the inventioninsures that adequate weight on the tongue ex ists to insure propertowing with safety. A trailer user can readily determine the weightapplied on the tow car hitch regardless of the type springing suspensionon a tow vehicle, and the invention is operable at any time, duringloading, after loading, or after rearranging a load. The invention is aconvenient aid to safe towing and is especially useful for inexperiencedusers and/or rental trailer users.

Safety means are incorporated to restrict the amount of movement of thetwo coupler with respect to one another. The spring means are preferablypreloaded to preclude a loose connection, and means are incorporated tolock out or prevent all action or relative movement of the couplerportions if desired.

Additional objects andadvantages of the invention will be more readilyapparent from the following detailed description of embodiments thereofwhen taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1, is a perspective view, partly in phantom, showing the coupler ofthe invention in one form of interconnecting a tow vehicle and trailer;

FIG. 2, is a fragmentary side elevational view of the coupler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, is a view similar to FIG. 2, indicating a tongue weight or loadin the trailer differing from the showing ofFIG.2; H

FIG. 4, is an end elevational view disclosing the intercouplingconstructional details of the coupler'portions;

FIG. 5, is a fragmentary top plan view of a coupler with a modifiedindicator scale;

FIG. 6, is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7, is a view similar to FIG. 6, disclosing a different tongueweight relationship.

Referring now in more detailto the drawings, a towing vehicle isgenerally indicated in phantom lines at having a tow hitch 12 includinga hitch ball 14, and

which construction can consist in any known device. A trailer isgenerally indicated in phantom lines at 16 including body 18 mounted onchassis frame 20, fragmentarily shown, wheels 22 and fenders 24. Thedrawings are illustrative only.

The weight-indicating trailer coupler of the presentinvention isgenerally designated 26, in one form, in FIG. 1. The coupler includes afirst or front portion 28 and a second or rear portion 30. A ballcoupler 32 of a desired construction is affixed at the forward end offront portion 28 for coacting with ball 14 in a usual manner, and with asecuring hand wheel 34 of a usual construction. In the illustratedembodiment of the coupler 32 is of a modified form particularly suitablefor use with the invention, and the body of the front portion 28 is ofopen channel or box shaped configuration as shown in FIG. 4. The secondor rear portion 30 of the coupler is also of box or channelconfiguration having a top cutout portion 36. The aft end of portion 28is telescopically inserted within rear portion 30 and pivotallyinterconnected by pivot 38. In a preferred construction bushings such asbronze ,oilite would be provided at the pivot point, and hardened partspro vided at all other wear points. It will be apparent, therefore, thatthe portions 28 and 30 can pivot with respect to one another for the.purposeof indicating tongue weight or load from a trailer with respectto the ball 14 of the hitch on a tow Jvehicle, as will be morespecifically delineated hereinafter.

Fail-safe means between thecoupler portions are incorporated, and in theembodiment shown include elongated slots 40, 42 in the sides of couplerportion 30 through which extend fail-safe bolts 44, extending throughcoacting holes in coupler portion 28. These bolts 44 are preferablysecured by lock nuts or castle nuts with cotter keys or the like. Thesefail-safe bolts serve to restrict the. amount of movement-between thecoupler parts and insure that the coupler can not come apart in theevent of failure at the pivot point.

Aweight-indicating scale 46 is provided in the embodiment of FIG. 1, ona rear side face of coupler portion 28, with the scale readings being inpounds of tongue weight or load. The leading edge 48 of coupler portion30 is provided with an indicating point or indicia 50 for coacting withscale 4,6. In operation, as weight is applied on coupler portion 30 dueto trailer load weight, the portion 28 will pivot with respect toportion 30 and the actual tongue weight or tongue load which will beapplied to the tow hitch or ball;l4 will be indicated by coaction ofpointer 50 on scale 46, presenting a visual indication of tongue weightor load on the tow car hitch.

The weighing feature of the invention is accomplished through suitablespring compression means interposed between the coupler portions 28 and30. In

the disclosed embodiment this includes a plurality of Belleville washers52 mounted on bolt 54 which extends between plate 56 and bottom 58 oftongue portion 30, the plate 56 being affixed to tongue portion 28. TheBelleville washers are appropriately arranged in size, and in series orparallel, and installed with some preload through tightening of a bolt54 and nut 60, the

plate 56 being provided on an area 62 of decreased depth on tongueportion 28. A locking handwheel 64 and coacting bolt 66 affixed to upperplate 68 can be used to lock out all action of the coupler if necessaryor desired.

As a trailer incorporating the weight indicating trailer coupler of theinvention is loaded, there will be more or less forces exerted on thetrailer towing ball by the coupler in a vertical direction. A greaterdownward force by the trailer tongue will compress the Bellevillewashers and the actual tongue weight is read off the calibrated scale 46directly, and vice versa. The pivoting is permitted by the elongatedslots 40 and 42, and the compression spring means such as Bellevillewashers, or other suitable compression spring, is correlated with thecalibrated scale for proper tongue load or weight indication. In theevent Belleville washers are used the number, arrangement andconstruction can be varied as required for different load applications.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 disclose a modified form of scale and load indicatingmechanism in the nature of a bell crank assembly, generally designated70. The coupler again consists of portions, 28A and 30A, pivotallyinterconnected. A curvilinear shaped scale 72 is affixed on a sideportion of member 28A in any suitable fashion, with the scale indicia 74on the upper surface. A bell crank lever 76 is pivotally mounted at 78on tongue portion 28A, with a pointer 80 attached to leg 82 for coactionwith indicia 74 upon movement of the bell crank. A pin 84 is secured tothe forward end of tongue portion 30A and extends inwardly through avertical slot 86' in the side of tongue portion 28A through a horizontalslot 88 in arm 90 of bell crank 76. By coaction of the pin 84 in theslots 86 and 88, the relative movement of tongue portions 28A, 30A inpivoting due to trailer load will transmit movement through bell crankassembly 70 to give a load or weight indication on scale 72. Theprinciple and function are the same as the first described embodiment.

Various details in construction can be effected in the shown anddescribed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in, and limited solely by, the appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A weight-indicating trailer coupler comprising:

A. a front coupler portion adapted for connection with a tow vehiclehitch;

B. a rear coupler portion adapted for connection with a trailer tongue;

i. said front and rear coupler portions being pivotally interconnectedfor relative rotation with respect to one another;

C. a trailer tongue load indicating scale on one said coupler portion;

D. a load indicator on the other said coupler portion coactable withsaid scale; and I E. spring means interconnected between said front andrear coupler portions, whereby:

i. amount of trailer load exerted on a tow vehicle hitch through thetrailer coupler is translated into a visual tongue weight indicationthrough relative pivotal rotation of said coupler portions, against theaction of said spring means, by coaction between said indicator and saidscale. 2. A trailer coupler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said springmeans comprises a compression spring interposed between said front andrear coupler portions of predetermined load characteristics, said springbeing pre-loaded to inhibit loose relative rotation of said couplerportions.

3. A trailer coupler as claimed in claim 2, wherein said compressionspring comprises at least one spring washer.

4. A trailer coupler as claimed in claim 3, wherein said spring washerconsists of a Belleville washer.

5. A trailer coupler as claimed in claim 4, and including a plurality ofcoacting aligned washers.

6. A trailer coupler as claimed in claim 2, including a pivotinconnecting said front and rear coupler portions,

said portions being at least partially telescopically disposed, theouter of said portions having elongated slots therein longitudinallyspaced from said pivot, and bolts secured to the inner of said portionsand extending through said slots, and constituting fail-safe bolts whichrestrict relative rotation of said portions and prevent disassembly ofsaid coupler portions in the event of failure of said pivot.

7. A trailer coupler as claimed in claim 6, and including a threadedbolt secured to the inner of said portions and extending through theouter of said portions, and a hand wheel threadedly engaged with saidbolt and operable to securely fix said portions with respect to oneanother against the action of relative rotation therebetween.

8. A trailer coupler as claimed in claim 1, said scale being on a sidesurface of said front coupler portion, and said load indicator being onthe front portion of said rear coupler portion, relative pivotalrotation of said coupler portions resulting in displacement of saidindicator along said scale.

9. A trailer coupler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scale comprisesa curvilinear plate having scale indicia on a surface thereof andmounted on the front said coupler portion, said load indicator includinga bell crank pivotally mounted on said front coupler portion and havinga pointer on one leg thereof operatively coacting with said scaleindicia, the other leg of said bell crank having a longitudinal slottherein, a vertical slot in said front coupler portion and a pin securedto said rear coupler portion extending through the respective slots insaid other bell crank arm and said front coupler portion, said slots andsaid pin coacting upon relative rotation of said coupler portions tomove said pointer with respect to said scale for visually indicatingtongue weight indication.

1. A weight-indicating trailer coupler comprising: A. a front couplerportion adapted for connection with a tow vehicle hitch; B. a rearcoupler portion adapted for connection with a trailer tongue; i. saidfront and rear coupler portions being pivotally interconnected forrelative rotation with respect to one another; C. a trailer tongue loadindicating scale on one said coupler portion; D. a load indicator on theother said coupler portion coactable with said scale; and E. springmeans interconnected between said front and rear coupler portions,whereby: i. amount of trailer load exerted on a tow vehicle hitchthrough the trailer coupler is translated into a visual tongue weightindication through relative pivotal rotation of said coupler portions,against the action of said spring means, by coaction between saidindicator and said scale.
 2. A trailer coupler as claimed in claim 1,wherein said spring means comprises a compression spring interposedbetween said front and rear coupler portions of predetermined loadcharacteristics, said spring being pre-loaded to inhibit loose relativerotation of said coupler portions.
 3. A trailer coupler as claimed inclaim 2, wherein said compression spring comprises at least one springwasher.
 4. A trailer coupler as claimed in claim 3, wherein said springwasher consists of a Belleville washer.
 5. A trailer coupler as claimedin claim 4, and including a plurality of coacting aligned washers.
 6. Atrailer coupler as claimed in claim 2, including a pivot inconnectingsaid front and rear coupler portions, said portions being at leastpartially telescopically disposed, the outer of said portions havingelongated slots therein longitudinally spaced from said pivot, and boltssecured to the inner of said portions and extending through said slots,and constituting fail-safe bolts which restrict relative rotation ofsaid portions and prevent disassembly of said coupler portions in theevent of failure of said Pivot.
 7. A trailer coupler as claimed in claim6, and including a threaded bolt secured to the inner of said portionsand extending through the outer of said portions, and a hand wheelthreadedly engaged with said bolt and operable to securely fix saidportions with respect to one another against the action of relativerotation therebetween.
 8. A trailer coupler as claimed in claim 1, saidscale being on a side surface of said front coupler portion, and saidload indicator being on the front portion of said rear coupler portion,relative pivotal rotation of said coupler portions resulting indisplacement of said indicator along said scale.
 9. A trailer coupler asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said scale comprises a curvilinear platehaving scale indicia on a surface thereof and mounted on the front saidcoupler portion, said load indicator including a bell crank pivotallymounted on said front coupler portion and having a pointer on one legthereof operatively coacting with said scale indicia, the other leg ofsaid bell crank having a longitudinal slot therein, a vertical slot insaid front coupler portion and a pin secured to said rear couplerportion extending through the respective slots in said other bell crankarm and said front coupler portion, said slots and said pin coactingupon relative rotation of said coupler portions to move said pointerwith respect to said scale for visually indicating tongue weightindication.